I have been configuring and deploying different Cisco routers and switches, and all of them has the same usability. Checking the location of IOS on routers and switches simply use show flash: or dir command, this is not the case on Cisco 7609S.

Cisco 7609S storage filesystem is more complex than other Cisco routers and switches which I have encountered.

Cannot find IOS but the IOS is booted?!
Cisco 7609S RPS720 has two CF flash slots labeled as DISK0 and DISK1.
To show the contents of the CF flash use show disk0: command.

C7609-1#dir ?
/all List all files
/recursive List files recursively
all-filesystems List files on all filesystems
bootdisk: Directory or file name
cns: Directory or file name
const_nvram: Directory or file name
dfc#1-bootflash: Directory or file name
dfc#2-bootdisk: Directory or file name
dfc#3-bootdisk: Directory or file name
dfc#4-bootdisk: Directory or file name
disk0: Directory or file name
disk1: Directory or file name
flexwan-fpd: Directory or file name
null: Directory or file name
nvram: Directory or file name
revrcsf: Directory or file name
slavebootdisk: Directory or file name
slaveconst_nvram: Directory or file name
slavedisk0: Directory or file name
slavedisk1: Directory or file name
slavenvram: Directory or file name
slavercsf: Directory or file name
slavesup-bootdisk: Directory or file name
slavesystem: Directory or file name
sup-bootdisk: Directory or file name
sup-microcode: Directory or file name
system: Directory or file name
tar: Directory or file name
tmpsys: Directory or file name
<cr>
C7609-1#

But I decided not to go in one by one instead I want to study and understand the partitions.

Additionally the boot variable is empty, how does IOS load when there is no pointer to boot the IOS?

6 Responses to Cisco 7609S filesystems: Where is the IOS?

This is because of Supervisor Engines (2 slots, that’s why you get sup-bootdisk: & slavesup-bootdisk, one working as primary and other for redundancy) on Cisco7609. I have up-graded them and also while you up-grade there is different command to do that from the usual Cisco platfoms.

I have used the 4506 catalyst switch, the SUPV engine did not have partition like 7609S, thanks for the information. I believe 7609 ISSU procedure should not be too different from the IOS way of doing…

How many SUPV Engines are there on 4506? Maybe it is for the 7609 being with dual SUPV Engines with disk partitions on them.

You are right the command is not way different rather the procedure is a bit different than traditional.
Just for reference (for people visiting here) following is the procedure to do up-grade.

If having flash disk installed in Router, upload IOS on it and do the following;
#no boot system flash
#write mem
#boot system flash disk1:xxxxxx.bin (name of IOS being up-graded to and to boot with new IOS after reload)
#boot system flash sup-bootflash:xxxxx(name of existing IOS which would be standby image)
#write mem
#copy tftp: sup-bootflash: (upon prompt give credentials and path to the IOS on tftp server, tftp server can be your system attached to Ethernet on SUPV Engine)
#show bootvar
#sh sup-bootflash: (here you can see current IOS and the IOS being up-graded to)
#reload

Also, if you do
#sh version
Then you may see the following in the output pointing to the IOS.
System image file is “sup-bootflash:xxxxx.bin” (name of current IOS)

After setting boot system to new IOS if you do “Sh running-config”, you should see following.

Hi Atif Saleem thank you very much for sharing this valuable information. Oh regarding the sup engines V of 4506, it is a pair, but that one only supports SSO, 7609 RPS supports sso and nsf which I tested with a timer, 3seconds to recover. You on skype? Perhaps we should keep in touch 🙂